Edwina Pilkington's Computer School of Magic (8 page)

Achoo!

‘What was that?' Edwina said.

‘What was what?' Zack said. ‘Don't tell me you can hear the Sand Dragons coming,' laughed Zack.

‘I tell you, I did hear something. It sounded like someone sneezing.'

Edwina turned around and found herself looking into a pair of green eyes. ‘Shoosh, don't speak. Nobody else can see me. Just listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. I am the Guardian of the Forbidden Temple from which the Bloodstones of Courage and Strength were stolen by the Sand Dragons. The Sand Dragons now have the power to blow sand through their nostrils, creating a whirlwind of sand which is now heading towards your School of Magic. The Sand Dragons must be stopped before they destroy the Ancient City of Temples. I must leave now, but I will return.'

‘He's gone,' said Edwina.

‘Who has gone?' Zack said, looking puzzled.

‘The Guardian of the Bloodstones.'

‘We have no idea what you are talking about, Edwina.'

‘The Guardian of the Bloodstones said no one else could see him except me.'

‘Well, that's the truth,' said Zack, looking even more puzzled than before. ‘The Guardian told me that we have to stop the Sand Dragons.'

‘Can I ask you a question?' Zack said.

‘Yes,' answered Edwina.

‘How do you plan to stop the Sand Dragons if they are already heading towards Frogsley and the Ancient City of Temples?'

‘I don't know, but we have to try.'

E
dwina, Zack and Harriet went back to their rooms, anxious to hear from the Guardian of the Bloodstones.

‘Edwina, you must speak with the Guardian of the Bloodstones, for we are running out of time,' Zack said. ‘We need to know all about the Sand Dragons.'

‘I don't know how to contact him,' said Edwina.

‘Well, you could start with using your telepathic powers,' said Zack in a sarcastic tone.

Edwina closed her eyes and let her telepathic powers take over. ‘Guardian of the Bloodstones, where are you?'

‘I am standing right beside you, Edwina. I've been watching over you ever since we spoke earlier.'

‘Please, Guardian of the Bloodstones, can my friends Zack and Harriet see you too?'

‘As you wish.'

‘Oh my,' Harriet said as she tried to stop herself from shaking, ‘you are the biggest black dog I have ever seen and you have giant wings that look like bat wings, and those paws are huge.'

Harriet slowly moved closer to Zack, hoping that the overgrown, dog-like creature would go away.

‘Don't be frightened. I am only here to ask for Edwina's help, but first let me introduce myself. I am the Guardian of the Bloodstones and my name is Rueban, given to me by my master. My master granted me the great honour of guarding the bloodstones in the Forbidden Temple. I have been watching over these stones for thousands of years.'

‘How did the Sand Dragons steal the bloodstones?' Zack said.

‘By tricking me,' said Rueban. ‘The Sand Dragons have always been my friends and I've known them all my life. They have always been gentle giants, hiding away in the sand. Their cousins the Fire Dragons are evil. They betrayed the Sand Dragons by casting a spell to make the Sand Dragons lie and steal.

‘The Sand Dragons came into the Forbidden Temple asking for my protection from their cousins, the Fire Dragons. I trusted them, not knowing they were already under the Fire Dragons' evil spell. They quickly turned angry and blew sand into my eyes, leaving me blind and helpless as they ran off with the bloodstones. Without the bloodstones, I have no powers.'

‘The sandstorm is a big problem as we will not be able to see long enough to cast a spell on the Sand Dragons,' Edwina said.

‘We must have a plan so we can help Rueban get the bloodstones back and regain his powers,' Zack said.

‘I have an idea,' Edwina said. ‘We could use Miss Prudence Pugwort. The sand cannot hurt a robot's eyes. Miss Prudence could lead me into the heart of the sandstorm. Zack, this is your big chance to prove you are a powerful computer whiz by putting a potion into the Witchery Cozmo that will remove the evil Fire Dragon spell.'

‘Let's get to work,' Zack said.

‘Guardian of the Bloodstones, how much time do we have before the Sand Dragons arrive?' Zack said as he looked down at his pocket watch.

‘At the speed the storm is moving, no more than six witchery hours.'

‘I'd better go find Miss Prudence Pugwort,' Edwina said, ‘and hope that she agrees to help us.'

E
dwina searched everywhere, trying to find Miss Prudence Pugwort. She looked in the classrooms, lunchrooms, library, but no Miss Prudence Pugwort. She was just about to give up when she looked in Professor Goodspell's office and found Miss Prudence Pugwort cleaning the silver scrolls that hung in the Great Witches Hall of Fame. These large scrolls had all the famous students' names engraved in gold that had ever attended Professor Frogsley's School of Computer Magic.

‘Miss Prudence Pugwort, there you are. Have you read the latest witchery email about the Sand Dragons?'

‘No, but I overheard Professor Goodspell talking to the other students about the Sand Dragons.'

‘I need your help, Miss Prudence Pugwort. Without your help, the Sand Dragons will destroy the Ancient City of Temples.'

‘I am only a rusty old robot. How can I be of any help against the Sand Dragons?'

‘I need you to guide me into the heart of the sandstorm.'

‘This rusty old robot would be honoured.'

Edwina gave Miss Prudence Pugwort a big cuddle.

‘Yippee!' Zack jumped up and down with excitement. ‘I've done it! I have the Magic Potion on the Witchery Cozmo. It will reverse the Fire Dragon's spell and return the Sand Dragons back to their normal gentle nature. All I need now is Edwina and Miss Prudence Pugwort.'

Just then, Edwina and Miss Prudence Pugwort walked back into the room where Zack was making the potion. ‘There you are, Edwina. Place your Magic Ring on the red key button on the Witchery Cozmo. Now this proves that Zackary Ernest Hemmingway the Third is a great computer whiz.'

Edwina placed her Magic Ring onto the red key button on the Witchery Cozmo.

‘You are now ready, Edwina. You have the Magic Power in your ring to stop the Sand Dragons,' Zack said.

Z
ack told Edwina and Miss Prudence Pugwort to use the Magic Potion only when they could see the Sand Dragons.

‘What's that noise?' Zack mumbled. Edwina looked up and there was Rueban holding a funny looking helmet.

‘I am unable to help you Edwina,' Rueban said, ‘but I do have one piece of magic left from inside the Forbidden Temple. A Magic Helmet which I would like you to wear, Edwina. It will protect your eyes from the sand, but it will be dark under the helmet, so trust Miss Prudence Pugwort and she will guide you safely into the heart of the sandstorm. Take care, Edwina. It will be very dangerous out there tonight.'

Edwina and Miss Prudence Pugwort made their way up the winding steps and out through the entrance of the old temple.

‘Where are the wolf-like dogs that guard the front entrance, Miss Prudence Pugwort?'

‘They have been taken inside for protection from the sandstorm.'

‘If you were granted a wish, what would you wish for?'

‘My one and only wish would be for a new tin body without rust.'

Edwina giggled. ‘If we stop the Sand Dragons, I will make sure your wish comes true.'

‘The wind is getting stronger, Edwina. The force of the Sand Dragons will soon be upon us.'

‘Look, Miss Prudence Pugwort, there are hundreds of beetles heading towards us.'

‘They are the Yellow Belly Bouncing Beetles. They keep the sand clean and will hide here in the temple until the sandstorm passes. Put your Magic Helmet on, Edwina, and hold on as tight as you can to my tin hand. Soon we will be in the heart of the Sandstorm. Be ready to use your Magic Ring.'

The sandstorm grew stronger. The wind was blowing so strongly, Edwina had trouble keeping her feet on the ground.

‘I can't hold on much longer, Miss Prudence.'